The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Higher Attestation Commission has adopted a new regulation for the Dissertation Committee sessions. Now sessions may be held online. Following this the MMBI Dissertation Committee held a session via Zoom application. During the session dissertations of A.S. Bulavina - "The continental runoff influence on the White Sea gulfs and the Baltic Sea south-east area water masses″ - and O.L. Zimina - "Fauna and benthic crustaceans of Peracarida superorder distribution in the Baltic Sea and adjacent shelf areas ″ - were accepted for preliminary review. The Committee also appointed expert commissions.